Reefer Spot Rates Jump 9¢ as Dry Van Gains and Flatbed Slides
Refrigerated freight saw the biggest volume spike since May, pushing linehaul rates to $2.77 per mile while flatbed fell nearly 6 cents.
Why did reefer spot rates jump this week?
Reefer spot rates climbed 9 cents last week to $2.77 per mile on the DAT national linehaul average, driven by an 18% surge in refrigerated loads. That volume jump marks the biggest single-week increase since International Roadcheck week in May. FTR data shows reefer spot rates rose just over 7 cents in the same period, putting year-over-year gains at 41%.
Dry van spot rates rose 6 cents to $2.26 per mile, according to DAT. FTR reported a 4-cent gain with loads up 6%. Year-over-year, dry van rates are running 49% higher than last November.
Flatbed moved the opposite direction. FTR shows flatbed spot rates dropped almost 6 cents last week, even as loads rose just over 6%. DAT recorded a 2-cent gain to $2.63 per mile. Year-over-year, flatbed rates still sit near 40% above last year's levels.
What the divergence means for equipment choice
The 18% reefer volume spike signals seasonal produce movement and holiday food distribution hitting the spot market hard. Carriers running temperature-controlled equipment are seeing the tightest capacity in six months. The 9-cent weekly rate gain puts reefer 51 cents above dry van on a per-mile basis, the widest gap since late summer.
Dry van continues a steady climb but without the volatility. The 6% load increase and 6-cent rate gain suggest balanced growth, not the kind of surge that forces shippers to chase trucks. For a five-truck dry van fleet, the $2.26 linehaul average translates to roughly $1,130 per 500-mile run before fuel surcharge. That same run in a reefer pays $1,385 at current spot rates.
Flatbed's rate drop despite rising loads points to regional imbalances. Construction and manufacturing freight typically moves on contract, so spot flatbed often reflects backhaul positioning or one-off project loads. The 6-cent FTR decline suggests more trucks chasing fewer premium lanes, even as total flatbed volume ticks up.
Year-over-year gains still hold across all three
All three equipment types remain well above last year's rates. Dry van up 49%, reefer up 41%, flatbed near 40%. Those year-over-year figures reflect the capacity tightening that began in late spring and accelerated through fall. Small fleets that survived the 2023 rate collapse are now seeing settlement statements that look closer to 2021 levels, though fuel costs remain elevated.
The reefer surge aligns with fall harvest and diesel cost pressures that pushed rejection rates to 21% in October. Temperature-controlled freight typically sees seasonal spikes in November as Thanksgiving distribution ramps up, but the 18% single-week volume jump suggests tighter capacity than usual for this point in the year.
What changes for a 10-truck fleet this week
If you run reefer, the 9-cent gain means an extra $45 per 500-mile load at spot. Over 20 loads per truck per month, that's $9,000 additional revenue for a 10-truck fleet before fuel. The volume spike also means less deadhead hunting, reefer dispatchers are fielding more inbound calls than they have since May.
Dry van operators see steadier but smaller gains. The 6-cent bump adds $30 per 500-mile run. For a 10-truck fleet running 200 loads a month, that's $6,000 in additional gross. The 6% load increase suggests freight is available but not desperate, shippers are still working their contract networks before hitting the spot board hard.
Flatbed fleets face the toughest call. The FTR rate drop means giving back nearly 6 cents per mile, or $30 per 500-mile load. A 10-truck flatbed fleet running 200 loads a month just lost $6,000 in weekly revenue if they're chasing spot. The 6% volume increase doesn't offset the rate slide, it confirms more trucks are competing for the same lanes. Flatbed operators with contract freight are insulated, those running spot-heavy are feeling the squeeze.
